You've probably heard that the nutritional food value in a single serving of broccoli is a great source of vitamins and nutrients for the body. Some studies have suggested that raw broccoli may be better for you than cooked broccoli. In several studies, scientists have found that raw broccoli contains more sulforaphane than cooked broccoli. Your body converts the vitamin C and fiber found in broccoli into sulforaphane, which helps fight cancer, after it enters the body.
Whether you decide to eat it raw or to cook it, broccoli can still provide your body with a plethora of vitamins and nutrients once it enters the body. They can help your body with vital functions and protect you from many diseases.
Vitamins
Here are the vitamins and nutrients you can expect to get in a single serving of broccoli:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin A
- Folate
- Dietary Fiber
- Manganese
- Tryptophan
- Potassium
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B2
- Phosphorous
- Magnesium
- Protein
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Vitamin B5
- Iron
- Calcium
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B3
- Zinc
- Vitamin E
The Health Benefits of Broccoli
Eating broccoli can help your body in many way. The phytonutrients found in broccoli have been proven to help reduce your chances of catching cancer by eliminating tumor growth within your body and increasing the estrogen in women that fights against breast cancer. It can also help your body battle deadly carcinogens that enter the body from a variety of courses and either destroy or reduce the size of tumors within your body.
If you eat anything from the crucifierous vegetable family, including broccoli cabbage and cauliflower, you can reduce your chances of getting lung, colon and breast or ovarian cancer. Adding broccoli and tomatoes to your diet can also significantly reduce your chances of getting prostate cancer.
Outside of helping reduce your chances of getting cancer, broccoli has other basic functions, too. The phytonutrients found in broccoli also work as antioxidants within the body. They attack free radicals in the body. But they also work harder to help cleanse the body of any other harmful compounds that may be floating around in your body. The sulforaphane found in broccoli also helps support the health of your stomach by limiting your chance of having an ulcer.
And, as if all of that wasn't enough, broccoli can provide help for any parts of your skin that have been damaged by the sun, reduce your chance of getting heart disease, prevent cataracts in your eyes and build stronger bones throughout your body. It even helps pregnant women by helping to prevent certain birth defects.
Adding More Broccoli to Your Diet
The key to seeing the benefits of broccoli is to add more of it to your diet. While it may not be the tastiest vegetable at the market, it will reap benefits that make it more than worth a try. Don't be scared off by the sulfur smell that broccoli releases when you cook it, either. A single serving of broccoli with a meal or between meals is a great way to boost your diet and your general health.
